The Keeper of Our Soul

12 FOR THIS REASON I ALSO SUFFER THESE THINGS; NEVERTHELESS I AM NOT ASHAMED, FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED AND AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP WHAT I HAVE COMMITTED TO HIM UNTIL THAT DAY. 13 HOLD FAST THE PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. 14 THAT GOOD THING WHICH WAS COMMITTED TO YOU, KEEP BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US. [2TI 1:12-14 NKJV]

The Keeper of Our Soul

IT IS THE SPIRITUAL PRIVILEGE OF EVERY BELIEVER TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SAVED.

WE READ IN 1 JOHN 5:13, "THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YOU MAY [CONTINUE TO] BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.” [1JO 5:13 NKJV]

AS CHRISTIANS, WE DO NOT HAVE TO HOPE WE ARE SAVED.

WE CAN KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH UNCERTAINTY OR DOUBTS ABOUT OUR SALVATION.

SOME OF US HAVE BEEN IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK FOR QUITE SOME TIME…..AND HAVE SOME YEARS IN OUR JOURNEY UNDER OUR BELT……..WHILE SOME OF US HAVE MAYBE BE CONSIDERED ROOKIES IN OUR FAITH WALK…….

AND WHERE EVER WE MAY BE IN OUR WALK…..SOME OF US MAY HAVE LOST SOME….ZEAL…..SOME ENTHUSIASM ABOUT CHRIST…..AND SOME OF US ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHERE WE STAND WITH THE LORD…….

IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU FIRST BAPTIST……

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SAVED……WE STILL MISS THE MARK…..WE STILL FALL SHORT……WE STILL TRIP UP ……LET ME SEE IF I CAN MAKE IT PLAIN…….

WE STILL SIN….. ONE OF THE TRICKS OF THE ENEMY IS TO CAUSE YOU TO DOUBT THAT YOU ARE SAVED…….YOU SEE IF SATAN CAN’T KEEP YOU FROM BEING SAVED, HIS NEXT MOVE IS TO TRY AND KEEP YOU FROM KNOWING THAT YOU ARE SAVED.

THE ENEMY KNOWS THAT …..ITS HARD TO ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU HAVE IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN YOU HAVE IT. HOWEVER, AS A CHRISTIAN…..YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH DOUBTS, BUT CAN KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT THEY ARE SAVED.

THAT IS WHAT PAUL IS DOING IN OUR TEXT THIS EVENING …..AND THAT IS TO KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT…..THAT WITH CERTAINTY ...THAT ONCE YOU BELIEVE ON HIM….YOU ARE SAVED…

I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE SETTLING THEIR DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR SALVATION

….IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT’S ABOUT “WHAT THEY DO” THAT DETERMINES IF THEY SAVED.

WELL LET ME JUST LET YOU IN ON A SECRET FIRST BAPTIST….

THAT’S NOT SO MUCH A SECRET…..BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD TELL US…..THAT BY GRACE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT’S A GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.

THE ESV SAYS IT THIS WAY….. FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD,

I LIKE THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION ……BECAUSE IT SAYS…… GOD SAVED YOU BY HIS GRACE WHEN YOU BELIEVED. AND YOU CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS; IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

SO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS……IT’S NOT “WHAT YOU DO”……IT’S ALL ABOUT ….”WHEN YOU BELIEVED”

AND I THANK THE LORD THIS MORNING THAT IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO……BECAUSE IF TRUTH BE TOLD THIS MORNING…….

IF IT DEPENDED ON WHAT WE DID AND OUR ACTIONS…..THAT DETERMINED IF WE COULD WALK THROUGH THOSE PEARLY GATES IN HEAVEN…..FOR MANY OF US…..THOSE GATES WOULD BE LOCKED….

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

ILLUS..

A PASTOR ASKED A DYING MAN, "MY FRIEND, WHAT PERSUASION ARE YOU?" THE MAN REPLIED, "I AM OF PAUL’S PERSUASION."

THE PASTOR SAID, "I AM AFRAID YOU DIDN’T UNDERSTAND ME. OF WHAT PERSUASION ARE YOU?"

THE MAN ANSWERED, "OH, I UNDERSTOOD YOU. I AM OF PAUL’S PERSUASION."

THE PASTOR THEN SAID, "I’M AFRAID I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU.

THERE IS A METHODIST PERSUASION, BAPTIST PERSUASION, LUTHERAN, PRESBYTERIAN, AND EPISCOPAL PERSUASION, BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ’PAUL’S PERSUASION?’"

THE MAN SMILED AND THEN SAID, "I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY." LET’S LOOK AT THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF PAUL AND LET ME SET BEFORE YOU THREE GREAT TRUTHS THAT FORM THE BASIS AND GROUNDS FOR YOU AND I TO BE ABLE TO SAY…..I KNOW THAT I KNOW…..WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SALVATION.

THE FIRST TRUTH THAT I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER IS: I. THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION IF WE ARE TO HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION IT STARTS WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW A PERSON IS SAVED. KNOWING THAT YOU ARE SAVED DEPENDS ON WHAT OR RATHER "WHOM" YOU ARE TRUSTING FOR SALVATION.

WITH THAT SAID …. I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO PAUL’S WORDS…..HE SAID IN VS 12….. "I HAVE BELIEVED." FIRST, LET’S CONSIDER THE WORD "BELIEVED." IN THIS WORD WE SEE THE:

A) ACT OF TRUSTING CHRIST

WHEN THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER CRIED OUT AND ASKED, "SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"

PAUL RESPONDED BY SAYING, "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST" (ACTS 16:30-31).

THE BIBLE TELLS US IN 1 JOHN 5:1, "WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD."

THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 10:10, "FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION."

JESUS HIMSELF SAID IN JOHN 6:47, "VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME HATH EVERLASTING LIFE." WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN BY BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS?

FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT IT IS MORE THAN BELIEVING ABOUT JESUS.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING I SAY ABOUT JESUS AND EVERYTHING THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HIM AND NOT BE SAVED.

SALVATION IS MORE THAN JUST BELIEVING THAT JESUS WAS REAL AND ALL THAT HE SAID IS TRUE.

JAMES SAID " YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE GOD. YOU DO WELL. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE--AND TREMBLE! [JAS 2:19 NKJV] SALVATION IS NOT BELIEVING ABOUT JESUS, BUT BELIEVING ON JESUS.

THE WORD "BELIEVETH" MEANS "TO HAVE FAITH" OR TO "TRUST IN."

LET ME MAKE IT PLAIN……. TO BELIEVE ON CHRIST IS TO PLACE YOUR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING IN THE LORD JESUS. YOU SEE……WHEN A PERSON BELIEVES ON THE LORD JESUS TWO THINGS ARE INVOLVED.

FIRST, THERE IS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR INABILITY.

WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OUR GOOD DEEDS, GOOD WORKS, AND HUMAN EFFORTS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE OURSELVES.

IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO, WHEN PAUL TOLD US HOW TO BE SAVED, HE SAID, "NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST" (EPH. 2:9). HE IS DECLARING THAT WE CANNOT BE SAVED BY WHAT WE DO.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE OURSELVES, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE, OR WHAT WE DO. THE SECOND TRUTH INVOLVED IN BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR INABILITY, BUT ALSO THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS ABILITY.

IF WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES, THEN WE NEED A SAVIOUR!

WE NEED TO TURN TO SOMEONE WHO CAN SAVE US AND THAT SOMEONE IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS IS TO COME TO HIM AND CAST OUR SOUL AND ETERNITY UPON HIM FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING.

THE ACT OF SALVATION IS SIMPLY COMING TO HIM AND ACCEPTING HIM AND TRUSTING HIM TO BE OUR SAVIOR.

IT IS TO PLACE OUR SINS UPON HIM AND OUR SOUL AND ETERNITY INTO HIS HANDS.

IN OTHER WORDS….. IT’S TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE SAVIOR AND TO TAKE HIM AS OUR SAVIOR. SECONDLY, NOTICE THE WORDS "I HAVE." IN THESE WORDS WE SEE THE: B) FACT OF TRUSTING CHRIST PAUL WAS SAYING THAT HE HAD BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS. SALVATION WAS AN ACT OF BELIEVING ON CHRIST AND THIS WAS A FACT IN HIS LIFE. HE HAD BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS FOR SALVATION. NOW, IN ORDER TO BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION, THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED,

"WHAT ARE YOU DEPENDING ON FOR YOUR SALVATION?"

OR, TO BE MORE CORRECT, "WHO ARE YOU DEPENDING ON FOR YOUR SALVATION?"

ARE YOU TRUSTING IN SOME EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD?

SOMEONE MAY BE THINKING, "PASTOR NEAL, I WENT TO THE ALTAR AND I FELT LIKE ELECTRICITY WENT THROUGH AND THROUGH MY BODY.

I KNOW I MUST BE SAVED BECAUSE OF WHAT I FELT."

YET, I MUST ASK YOU IF THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE SAVED BECAUSE OF SOME EXPERIENCE WE HAD? ANOTHER MIGHT SAY, "PASTOR, I CAME TO THE ALTAR AND PEOPLE PRAYED WITH ME." I ASK YOU, DOES THE BIBLE SAY A PERSON IS SAVED BECAUSE SOMEONE PRAYED WITH THEM? STILL ANOTHER MAY ANSWER AND SAY, "I HAVE LIVED A GOOD LIFE AND I’M A GOOD PERSON.

I HAVE NEVER REALLY DONE BAD THINGS." I ASK, "DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT LIVING A GOOD LIFE IS THE WAY TO BE SAVED?"

THE ANSWER IS NO!

SALVATION IS THE ACT OF BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS!

CAN YOU SAY, LIKE PAUL SAID…….. "I HAVE BELIEVED."

THE KEEPER OF OUR SOUL

I BELIEVE THAT PAUL GIVES US SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN GLEAN FROM IN OUR TEXT THIS EVENING….. THE TEXT GIVES US ….

II. THE SURETY OF OUR SALVATION MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…… NOTICE THE WORDS, "I KNOW." IN THOSE TWO WORDS PAUL EXPRESSED THE ASSURANCE HE HAD OF HIS SALVATION.

WITH PAUL, IT WAS NOT "I HOPE," OR "I THINK," BUT "I KNOW!"

HE WAS ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THAT HE WAS SAVED.

AS A BELIEVER WE DO NOT HAVE TO WONDER OR HOPE WE ARE SAVED. WE CAN SAY WITH PAUL, "I KNOW."

EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY, "I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I AM SAVED." SALVATION SHOULD BE SOMETHING SURE AND SETTLED IN THE HEART OF EVERY CHRISTIAN. HOWEVER, THERE ARE THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH UNNECESSARY DOUBT.

THEY LACK A SURETY ABOUT THEIR SALVATION.

BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS EVENING FIRST BAPTIST……. BY THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD, THAT DOUBT IS UNNECESSARY.

DOUBTS AND UNCERTAINTY CAN BE OVERCOME. GOD WANTS US TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "I KNOW."

HE WANTS US TO POSSESS AN ASSURANCE THAT WE ARE HIS CHILD. HE WANTS US TO STAND WITH CONFIDENCE…..THAT WE ARE HIS CHILD….AND HE IS OUR DADDY….

WE HAVE THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION…….THE SURETY OF OUR SALVATION……..

AND I BELIEVE THAT PAUL GIVES US OUR THIRD POINT WE CAN GLEAN FROM…..AND THAT IS….. III. SECURITY OF OUR SALVATION IN PAUL’S WORDS WE ARE NOT ONLY GIVEN THE BASIS OF OUR ASSURANCE, BUT ALSO ASSURED THAT OUR SALVATION IS SECURE AND ETERNAL.

WE CAN NOT ONLY SAY THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED, BUT ALSO THAT WE ARE ETERNALLY SECURE.

PAUL NOT ONLY EXPRESSED HIS PERSONAL ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, BUT ALSO THAT HE WAS, "PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY." THE LORD IS NOT ONLY THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING US; HE IS ALSO THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING US SAVED.

PAUL WAS NOT ONLY ASSURED THAT HE WAS SAVED, BUT ALSO THAT THE LORD WOULD KEEP HIM SAVED. NOTICE PAUL’S WORDS AND NOTICE THAT HE DESCRIBES THE: A) PRESERVATION WE HAVE IN CHRIST PAUL SAID THAT HE WAS "PERSUADED." THE WORD SIMPLY MEANS HE WAS "CONVINCED."

BUT WHAT WAS HE CONVINCED OF?

HE WAS CONVINCED AND ASSURED THAT GOD WOULD "KEEP THAT WHICH" HE HAD "COMMITTED UNTO HIM."

THAT WORD "COMMITTED" FIRST BAPTIST…… SPEAKS OF "MAKING A DEPOSIT."

PAUL HAD COMMITTED HIS SINS AND SOUL TO THE LORD.

LIKE ONE WHO DEPOSITS HIS OR HER MONEY INTO A BANK FOR SAFEKEEPING, HE HAD COMMITTED HIS ETERNITY INTO THE HANDS OF THE LORD FOR SAFEKEEPING. THE WORD "KEEP" MEANS TO "WATCH OVER AND PRESERVE."

THE KEEPING OF OUR SALVATION IS NOT OUR WORK, BUT HIS WORK!

WE DON’T KEEP OURSELVES SAVED.

HE KEEPS US SAVED!

WHEN WE DEPOSIT OUR MONEY IN THE BANK WE ARE RESTING IN THE FACT THAT THE BANK WILL KEEP OUR MONEY SAFE.

AS BELIEVERS, WE REST IN THE BLESSED TRUTH THAT HE WILL KEEP US.

HOW LONG WILL THE LORD KEEP THAT WHICH WE HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM?

PAUL TELLS US THAT HE WILL KEEP IT "UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY."

THE DAY THAT PAUL SPOKE OF WAS THE DAY OF CHRIST’S RETURN.

IN OTHER WORDS, HE WILL KEEP US UNTIL THE DAY WE GET HOME! HE IS GUARANTEEING OUR ARRIVAL!

YES, WE ARE ETERNALLY SAVED AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A RESERVATION!

WE HAVE A GUARANTEED RESERVATION….

NO ONE CAN TAKE OUR RESERVATION….

OUR RESERVATION CAN’T BE OVERBOOKED….

OUR RESERVATION CAN’T BE CANCELLED…..

IT’S A RESERVATION THAT DOESN’T REQUIRE A DEPOSIT….

A RESERVATION THAT’S ETERNAL…..

I KNOW THAT I KNOW…… THE SOURCE OF MAY SALVATION…..THE SURETY OF MY SALVATION…..THE SECURITY OF MY SALVATION…..

THE KEEPER OF OUR SOUL

SONG WRITER FANNY CROSBY SAID IT WELL……SHE SAID…… BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE O WHAT A FORETASTE OF GLORY DIVINE HEIR OF SALVATION, PURCHASE OF GOD BORN OF HIS SPIRIT, WASHED IN HIS BLOOD

PERFECT SUBMISSION, ALL IS AT REST I IN MY SAVIOR AM HAPPY AND BLESSED WATCHING AND WAITING, LOOKING ABOVE FILLED WITH HIS GOODNESS, LOST IN HIS LOVE

THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG

I KNOW THAT I KNOW…..THAT…..YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

I KNOW THAT I KNOW….THAT…..NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER

I KNOW THAT I KNOW……THAT……YOU ARE VICTORIOUS IN CHRIST….

I KNOW THAT I KNOW……YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT ……YOU ARE CHOSEN BY GOD….

I KNOW THAT I KNOW…….OVER 2000 YEARS AGO….ON A HILL CALLED CALVARY…….

THEY HUNG HIM HIGH………STRETCHED HIM WIDE……